Pope Questions Value Of Interfaith Talks

November 24, 2008

ROME
— In comments on Sunday that could have broad implications in a period
of intense religious conflict, Pope Benedict XVI cast doubt on the
possibility of interfaith dialogue but called for more discussion of
the practical consequences of religious differences.

The pope’s
comments came in a letter he wrote to Marcello Pera, an Italian
center-right politician and scholar whose forthcoming book, “Why We
Must Call Ourselves Christian,” argues that Europe should stay true to
its Christian roots. A central theme of Benedict’s papacy has been to
focus attention on the Christian roots of an increasingly secular
Europe.

In quotations from the letter that appeared on Sunday in
Corriere della Sera, Italy’s leading daily newspaper, the pope said the
book “explained with great clarity” that “an interreligious dialogue in
the strict sense of the word is not possible.” In theological terms,
added the pope, “a true dialogue is not possible without putting one’s
faith in parentheses.”

But Benedict added that “intercultural
dialogue which deepens the cultural consequences of basic religious
ideas” was important. He called for confronting “in a public forum the
cultural consequences of basic religious decisions.”

The Vatican
spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the pope’s comments seemed
intended to draw interest to Mr. Pera’s book, not to cast doubt on the
Vatican’s many continuing interreligious dialogues.

“He has a
papacy known for religious dialogue; he went to a mosque, he’s been to
synagogues,” Father Lombardi said. “This means that he thinks we can
meet and talk to the others and have a positive relationship.”

To
some scholars, the pope’s remarks seemed aimed at pushing more
theoretical interreligious conversations into the practical realm.

“He’s
trying to get the Catholic-Islamic dialogue out of the clouds of theory
and down to brass tacks: how can we know the truth about how we ought
to live together justly, despite basic creedal differences?” said
George Weigel, a Catholic scholar and biographer of Pope John Paul II.

This
month, the Vatican held a conference with Muslim religious leaders and
scholars aimed at improving ties. The conference participants agreed to
condemn terrorism and protect religious freedom, but they did not
address issues of conversion and of the rights of Christians in
majority Muslim countries to worship.

The church is also engaged
in dialogue with Muslims organized by the king of Saudi Arabia, a
country where non-Muslims are forbidden from worshiping in public.